Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090139913 | High Capacity Sweepside Mail Cart and Method of Use Thereof - A postal cart according to the invention includes a base on wheels and a support frame mounted on the base. An upper shelf and a lower shelf are mounted at the top and bottom of the frame and accessible from a front side of the cart. A series of rectangular compartments are accessible from the front side of the cart, each compartment configured for storage of one postal tray filled with mail, but insufficiently wide to store more than one such postal tray side by side in the same compartment. A number of pull out sliding shelves are mounted along the bottom of no more than about half of the compartments, the remaining compartments being free of the sliding shelves. The compartments are configured to fit one tray in each. The vertical density of the compartments is greater than would be possible if a sliding shelf were disposed in all of the compartments. | 06-04-2009 |
20090272859 | High Density Mail Sorting Cart - A mail cart for use in manual sorting of mail pieces according to the inventions includes a generally rectangular frame and wheels mounted on the frame for rolling support of the cart on a floor. A bottom, substantially horizontal shelf is secured to the frame along with a first inclined shelf secured to the frame above the bottom shelf and spaced from the bottom shelf in a vertical direction, which first inclined shelf extends forwardly and upwardly at an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane. A second inclined shelf is secured to the frame above the first inclined shelf and spaced from the first inclined shelf in a vertical direction. The second inclined shelf extends forwardly and upwardly at an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane, which angle is preferably the same as the angle of first shelf. | 11-05-2009 |
20090282787 | Bundle Unwrapping Machine - A method and apparatus are provided for automatic bundle transport, positioning, wrapper entry, wrapper opening, wrapper loosening, wrapper removal and wrapper dunnage takeaway. The wrapper is made from pliable material, thin film or similar material and which can comprise a variety of package types and sizes of mail, media or other items. Additionally the method and apparatus of the invention performs the tasks of wrapper removal and discharge without damaging the item contents within. A bundle unwrapping machine according to the invention includes a conveyor by which bundles are presented to the unwrapping machine for opening. An opening mechanism includes a pair of openers positioned to engage a bundle on opposite sites. The bundle is transported into an opening zone in which it is supported for engagement with the openers. | 11-19-2009 |
20100110496 | Mail delivery system and method - The invention provides a method for preparing mail for delivery by first sorting mail to carrier delivery order to create a series of batches of mail for delivery to respective recipients, then packaging the batches of mail in mail holders. Application of computer-implemented alert trigger criteria are used to determine whether a condition exists indicating an enhanced probability that one or more mail pieces in each batch is not correctly addressed such that it should not be delivered to that recipient. An alert mark is then printed on the mail holder for a batch containing one or more mail pieces having an enhanced probability of not being correctly addressed. | 05-06-2010 |
20100145504 | ADDRESS LABEL RE-WORK STATION - An address label rework station according to the invention includes a conveyor which can simultaneously transport a series of spaced parcels along a conveyor path in a substantially horizontal stream. The station includes a camera, A work space, a microphone is usable by an operator in the work space, a targeting device directing a human operator in the work space. Station also includes a sensor system, a labeler and a printer to print shipping information. The station also includes a computer configured to receive and recognize image and voice data, generate a label with a recognized shipping address, and control the conveyer to apply a new label to the parcel by the labeler at the position selected using the targeting device. | 06-10-2010 |
20100147751 | Mail Holder for Use in a Mail Sorting System - A holder for flat objects according the invention includes an endless belt made of a flexible sheet material, wherein an end portion of the belt is folded into itself forming an inner bend and an outer bend with the inner bend disposed inside of the outer bend. A set of first and second support rods are disposed side by side in parallel to each other, the first rod at the bottom of the inner bend and the second rod at the bottom of the outer bend. A pair of third and fourth rods extend through parallel endwise openings in the belt between the inner and outer bends, which third and fourth rods are disposed side by side in parallel to each other with the belt is wound over the third and fourth rods so that the belt can slide over the third and fourth rods, whereby movement of the first rod away from the second rod causes sliding movement of the belt over the third and fourth rods. In a preferred embodiment an inside surface of the belt is attached to one or both of the first and second rods. | 06-17-2010 |
20100300944 | Method and system of sorting items for delivery to a recipient - A system, method and apparatus for sorting items for delivery. A smart case module includes a plurality of bins. Each bin includes a display for a sort criteria for the bin and a first indicator to indicate that the bin is active. The bin also includes an input device for an operator to use to indicate that an item has been placed in the bin. The bin further includes a second indicator to indicate that the bin contains a sufficient number of items for a shipping container. | 12-02-2010 |
20120096817 | Film-Wrapped Bundle Opener - Methods and tools for opening polyfilm-wrapped packages. A tool includes a rubbing surface and a motor configured to move the rubbing surface. The tool includes a power source connected to supply power to the rubbing surface. The rubbing surface is applied to the polyfilm wrapping while being moved to create an opening in the polyfilm wrapping caused at least in part by friction heat. The opening is created without damaging contents of the package. | 04-26-2012 |
20120096818 | Package Unbundling System - Methods and tools for unbundling polywrapped packages. An automatic unbundling system includes an input unit configured to receive a polywrapped bundle that includes a plurality of items and a conveyor system configured to transport the bundle. The automatic unbundling system includes an automatic unwrapping machine configured to receive the bundle from the conveyor system and unwrap the bundle. The automatic unbundling system can include a loose stack accumulator configured to straighten the unwrapped plurality of items. | 04-26-2012 |
20130230373 | Automated Unloader Base Belt and Container - A base belt for use with an automated unloading apparatus that can automatically unload a container having a plurality of items located on the base belt, and a container configured for use with an automated unloading apparatus. The base belt has a trailer end configured to be removably attached to a container. The base belt has an unloader end configured to be removably attached to the automated unloading apparatus. The container has a container body having an interior and an attachment point on the interior of the container. | 09-05-2013 |
20140054203 | Single Pass Mail Sorting System - A method of mail sorting according to the invention includes the steps of sorting a batch of mail addressed to recipients in a common postal delivery zone with an automated single pass mail sorting machine into groups wherein the mail pieces in each group have a common delivery destination, transporting the groups of sorted mail using an automated conveying system to a delivery point packaging machine, and then packaging the groups of mail pieces with the delivery point packaging machine. Such a method is preferably part of a single pass sorting process wherein a batch of starting mail destined to a common zone is sorted into groups of mail for each destination that are then brought to the delivery point packaging machine in carrier delivery order. | 02-27-2014 |
20140326580 | Extendible Conveyor and Parcel Handling System - An extendable boom conveyor system having a first boom element, a controller, an input device, and a second boom element. The controller, using the input device, can adjust the position of the first boom element to maintain a distance relative to a user. A method performed by an extendible conveyor system can include detecting a position of a user using the input device, moving the first boom element to a position relative to the position of the user, detecting a user input using the input device, moving the first boom element to a new position according to the user input, and transporting parcels loaded by the user on the conveying surfaces. | 11-06-2014 |